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OCS consultant says FAPT lacks family participation; CPMT to get report and implement reviews
Summary
An Office of Children's Services consultant told the Tazewell County CPMT that local Family Assessment and Planning Teams (FAPT) are not operating as intended, citing lack of family participation, incomplete IFSPs and insufficient discharge planning; OCS will issue recommendations and schedule quarterly reviews.
An Office of Children's Services (OCS) program consultant told the Tazewell County CPMT on Aug. 28, 2023 that local Family Assessment and Planning Teams (FAPT) are "not operating as should be," citing a lack of family participation in assessments and service planning, gaps in IFSP completion during FAPT meetings, and weak discharge planning practices.
Courtney Sexton, OCS Program Consultant, said she observed two FAPT meetings and two CPMT meetings during her review period and is preparing a full report with findings and recommendations. Sexton told members she will schedule quarterly reviews to assess implementation progress and will provide a written report that CPMT members will discuss at a future meeting.
Sexton said families were not always included in FAPT assessments and decisions, and that case managers have in some cases been completing IFSPs instead of the FAPT team during meetings. She urged stronger emphasis on family inclusion and on discharge planning to support transitions out of CSA-funded services.
Members discussed training and technical assistance. The meeting packet included OCS guidance items and an Administrative Memo (Admin Memo #23-06) about CSA reimbursement limits for private day special education: OCS will not reimburse localities for private day special education tuition in 2023–24 at a level higher than 2% above the 2022–23 statewide rates. Melinda Smith said Minnick School’s increase exceeded that cap and stressed that a student’s IEP must precisely describe educational needs for CSA to consider funding above the cap.
Brooke Mullins (Cumberland Mountain CSB) described CMCSB’s non-mandated Mental Health Initiative funds, explaining the pooled allocation across Buchanan, Russell and Tazewell counties totals $85,639 and is prioritized for non-mandated services when other funding sources are not available.
Sexton said the OCS report will include specific recommendations and that CPMT and FAPT will have scheduled follow-up reviews; CPMT will receive the consultant’s written report and discuss recommended next steps at a later meeting.
